The
good news this week is that the rear driving wheel springs were completed on
Friday afternoon. They will be delivered to Tyseley this week so once the chassis
can be moved over the wheeldrop we will be able to get the rear drivers back
in meaning once again we have a 4-6-0. In preparation for this the stripping
of the driver wheels has been finished allowing them to be primed. During the
day the wheelset was given a coat of black undercoat.

6024's
rear driving wheels in grey primer. April 24 2004

Mick
Carr applies the black undercoat to the rear drivers. April 24 2004

Now
that the boiler has a boiler ticket efforts are also being concentrated on getting
it ready to put back in the frames. This will hopefully occur fairly shortly
after the rear driving wheels make it back into the frames.

The
firehole doors and flap plate have been removed to be rubbed down removing the
heat damaged paint work prior to another painting. Meanwhile on the boiler itself
a good proportion has been given a final coat of micasious paint. However before
this happened any bits of rust coming through were wire brushed and the very
sooty backhead was thoroughly cleaned below the various controls. These controls
will be removed shortly to allow the top section of the backhead to be cleaned
and painted. In the week the firebox side brackets have been refitted.

The
re-fitted firebox side brackets, with stainless steel nuts, can be seen
as can progress on painting this side (the fireman's side) of the firebox.
By the end of the day this side of the firebox had been finished. April
24 2004

Pete
Archer (left) and John Salter painting the firebox and boiler. Between them
the crown was finished as was the top section of the barrel along with some
of the driver's side of the firebox. However the heat made is difficult to paint
with the already thick paint - it was like trying to paint with treacle ! April
24 2004

Work
has also continued on another important bit of the boiler - the cladding. This
has been rubbed back again and given another coat of green undercoat.

Dave
Fuszard washes one of the cladding sheets having already rubbed it down
with wet 'wet and dry' paper. April 24 2004

April
17

A
very successful day in nice spring weather at Tyseley. The boiler was inspected
in steam by boiler inspector John Glaze. 6024's boiler is now re-certificated.
This is obviously a major milestone. It will now be all hands to the pumps to
get the loco reassembled and ready for test running.

A
coal run to keep the fire going ! From the left - Leon Salter, John Salter,
Huw Button, Keith Clarke and Colin Henderson. April 17 2004

Steve
Underhill feeds the fire and makes sure the nicely painted backhead now needs
a damn good clean ! April 17 2004

With
a fresh round of 'best' coal on the fire just a little smoke was produced....
A compressed air feed acted as a blower. To the right of the boiler are
6024 Chairman & Engineering Manager Steve Underhill and, in red, boiler
inspector John Glaze. April 17 2004

The
firehole doors were cracked a little to cut down the smoke produced allowing
a nice shot of the fire. April 17 2004

Mid
afternoon the safety valves lifted and were set to the prescribed level - 250psi
as indicated by the test pressure gauge. April 17 2004

The
boiler looks ready to go - now we have to get it back in the frames etc
etc etc..... April 17 2004

Work
on fitting the ashpan water supply - to reduce the ash temperature prior to
disposal and cut down dust - has continued. Shortly the ashpan will be ready
to fix to the firebox prior to dropping the whole lot back into the frames.

The
ashpan with the ashpan water pipework mid way through being fitted. Behind
it everyone is having a tea break. April 17 2004

The
rear driving axle springs have yet to return from their overhaul meaning the
rear driving wheels have not be re-fitted. This has, however, allowed more time
to prepare the rear driving wheels to be stripped of paint in readiness for
painting.

Keith
Clarke continues the almost endless task of stripping paint from the rear
set of driving wheels. April 17 2004

It
has been decided to fit a steam chest pressure gauge to 6024. This copies the
work of British Railways who fitted them to two Kings and two Castles. The pressure
is measured via a specially made snifting valve. A straight swap has been arranged
with one of 6024's standard valves. This modified valve has been fitted to the
right hand outside cylinder.

Two
snifting valves - the rear being the one previously fitted to 6024 with
the front valve is the new one. The yellow arrow points to where the pipework
to the steam chest pressure gauge is attached to the valve. April 12 2004

Colin
Henderson is either asleep or is fitting the snifting valve to the front
of the outside right hand cylinder. April 17 2004

With
the boiler rapidly approaching re-fitting attention has returned to the newly
made cladding sheets. Several of these have been rubbed down and given another
coat of green undercoat.

Mick
Carr (left) and Huw Button rub down one of the cladding sheets. April
17 2004

April
10/11

I
know something happened this weekend but, like several regulars, I was elsewhere
this weekend. Until I find out what did happen I have nothing to report !

April
03/04

A weekend
off all round ! Here is a reminder of what we are all working towards: